Collapsible support for tables, chairs, etc.



3, 1933- w. GARMAN CQLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR TABLES, CHAIRS, ETC

Filed March 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A TTORNEY Aug. 8, 1933. wGARMAN COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR TABLES, CHAIRS, ETC

Filed March 1. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1? 39 /a Z6 5 A;

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.55 i M /2 20-- 20 //2 f L INVENTOR MW ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1933UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR TABLES,

CHAIRS, ETC.

William Garman, New York, N. Y.

Application March 1, 1932. Serial No. 596,056

5 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible supports for tables, chairs andthe like, and has for one of its objects the provision of a support ofthis character, that when the said support is in collapsed or foldedposition it will occupy a very small space. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide such a support to whichthe table top, chair seat, or other similar object may be readily andremovably secured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support of thecharacter referred to in which the supporting legs and the chair ortable top porting legs and arms in outstretched position. and operationso as to make the support reversible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means forreleasably locking the supporting legs and arms in out stretchedposition.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described inwhich the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of theimprovements is better understood, the invention consistingsubstantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts hereinfully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinsimilar reference characters are used to describe corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and then finally pointed out andspecifically define and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventiveconcept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention isnot to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and thelatter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather thana restrictive standpoint.

The invention idea involved is capable of receiving a variety ofmechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration,is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view inelevation of my improved support with a table top or similar objectsecured thereto.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof with the table top shown in dot anddash lines.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view through one end of the support.

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing one set of arms orlegs in partly collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation showing the entire device in collapsedposition.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the ring employed to connect the supportarms, and

Figure 7 is a perspective of the fixture connecting the support arms tothe table or chair.

Referring now to the drawings in detail 10 indicates a central hollowpost provided at or near the topand bottom thereof with slots 11preferably six in number, three near the top and three near the bottomend thereof. The top slots being preferably in staggered relation to thebottom slots, the said slots being spaced at one hundred and twentydegrees apart.

Projecting through each of the said slots is an arm or leg 12 pivotallymaintained on a ring 13 secured by welding or soldering to the innerbore of the post 10 after the arms or legs are in place thereon. It isto be understood that there is one such ring for the lower arms andanother for the upper arms 12. The said arms are maintained in extendedposition by the inner bore and an edge 14 of a sleeve 15 which at itsopposite edge is provided with a cutaway portion 16 in engagement withor resting upon a pin 17 in the post 10, the inner bore of the sleevebeing in engagement with bent projections 18 at the pivot Q end of thearms 12. The free ends of the arms 12 are each provided with a notch 20for receiving a securing fixture 21 secured to the underside of a table,chair or other top 22. It is to be understood that the said fixture 21when used in connection with a flexible chair-seat such as canvas, maybe permanently secured to the said seat but can also be slidably securedto any rigid seat or top.

To fold or collapse the arms 12, the sleeves 14 are revolved one at atime in the directions of the arrows 23 and 24, Figure 1, until the pin17 rides off the surface 16 and comes into alinement with a verticalslot 25 permitting the sleeve to drop to the position indicated at theupper 5 portion of Figure 4 with the pin 17 in engagement with the upperedge 26 of a horizontal slot 27 in the sleeve 15. Upon a furtherrotation of the sleeve in the direction of arrow 28, Figure 4, a secondvertical slot 29 will come into alinement with the pin 1'7 and the saidsleeve will drop down until the top of the said slot rests thereon, thuspermitting the arms to be folded into the Figure 5 or fully collapsedposition. It will be seen that the slots 25, 27 and 29 are continuationsof each other, the reason for positioning them as shown being tointerrupt the drop of the arms 12 so that they may not come down toorapidly and violently and injure the hand of the person collapsing thedevice. To further retard the downward movement of the said arms I-may,if desirable, provide a spring 32 for each arm secured to the inside ofthe post 10 and bearing upon and exerting a slight pressure or frictionagainst the lower portions of the extensions 18. A cap 33 is provided ateach end of the post 10 for closing same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple,efficient and readily collapsible support for various articles offurniture, such as tables, chairs or any other article where suchsupport can be used.

It will also be seen that due to the arrangement of the supporting armsI have provided a supporting member having a three point support at thetop and bottom thereof.

I desire it understood that wherever in the claims I use the words chairseat securing brackets supporting brackets for any other articles are tobe included.

It will be understood that instead of the three arms, 12, as shown inthe drawings, I may provide four or more such arms arranged and mountedin a manner similar to that shown in the drawings.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A support of the nature described, comprising a hollow post providedwith a plurality of slots near one end thereof, a supporting arm passingthrough each of the slots, a ring on the interior of the post upon whichthe arms are pivotally mounted, a slotted sleeve on the post inengagement at one end with the arms, and a pin on the post in engagementwith the opposite end of the sleeve when the arms are in extendedposition and adapted to be brought into alinement with the slot in thesleeve when the said sleeve is rotated to permit same to he slid down onthe post todisengage the sleeve from the arms to permit the said arms tobe folded.

2. A support of the nature described, com prising a hollow post providedwith a plurality of slots near one end thereof, a supporting arm passingthrough each of the slots, a ring on the interior of the post upon whichthe arms are pivotally mounted, a slotted sleeve on the post inengagement at one end with the arms, a pin on the post in engagementwith the opposite end of the sleeve when the arms are in extendedposition and adapted to be brought into alinement with the slot in thesleeve when the said sleeve is rotated to permit same to he slid down onthe post to disengage the sleeve from the arms to permit the said armsto be folded, and springs within the post in engagement with the saidarms.

3. A support of the nature described, comprising a hollow post providedwith a plurality of slots near one end thereof, a supporting arm passingthrough each of the slots, a ring on the interior of the post upon whichthe arms are pivotally mounted, a sleeve on the post in engagement atone end thereof with the pivot end of the arms, and provided at itsopposite end with a slot, the said slot comprising a lower and uppervertical slot section connected by a horizontal slot section, and a pinin the post in engagement with the bottom of the sleeve when the armsare extended, and in engagement with the upper edge of the horizontalslot section when the sleeve is partly rotated to bring the lower slotsection in alinement with the said pin and in engagement with the upperportion of the upper slot section when the sleeve is fully rotated tocompletely collapse the arms.

4. A support of the nature described, comprising a hollow post providedwith a plurality of slots near one end thereof, a supporting arm passingthrough each of the slots, a ring on the interior of the post upon whichthe arms are pivotally mounted, a sleeve on the post in engagement atone end thereof with the pivot end of the arms, and an abutment on thepost in engagement with the opposite end of the said sleeve, the saidsleeve being provided with a slot so arranged as to permit the partialfolding of the arms when the sleeve is rotated a predetermined distanceto bring the slot in alinement with the abutment and to permit of fullyfolding the arms upon a further rotation of the sleeve.

5. A support of the nature described, comprising a hollow post providedwith a plurality of slots near one end thereof, a supporting arm passingthrough each of the slots, means on the interior of the post upon whichthe arms are pivotally mounted, a slotted sleeve on the post inengagement at one end'with the arms, and a pin on the post in engagementwith the oppo site "end of the sleeve when the arms are in extendedposition and adapted to be brought into alinement with the slot in thesleeve when the said sleeve is rotated to permit same to be slid down onthe post to disengage the sleeve from the arms to permit the said armsto be folded.

WILIJAM GARM'AN.

